Cuomo: Hiring Roy McDonald ‘would be my pleasure’

The Republican senator from Saratoga made a rare official appearance this morning during a tour sponsored by the Capital Region Economic Development Council, sitting next to Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy in the front row of a presentation about several council projects.

Cuomo, a Democrat, singled out McDonald for praise while speaking to the group, calling him a “courageous” legislator whose Republican primary loss to Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione was based in large part on McDonald’s 2011 vote for same-sex marriage, which Cuomo backed. The governor said McDonald’s departure would mean “a tremendous loss for the people of this state.”

“Sometimes you can pay political price,” Cuomo told McDonald. “But in the long book of history, you’re going to go down as an outstanding public servant.”

We’ve since heard several people in political circles whisper that McDonald would be appointed head of the state’s Division of Veterans Affairs after his term expires in December. The senator told my colleague Jim Odato Monday that he’s had no conversations with the Cuomo administration, and that the rumors are not accurate.

Cuomo was asked directly about appointing McDonald, and while he said the senator was heading for a “private sector” job, he hardly ruled it out.

“I think he’s a great man,” Cuomo said. “He made a tremendous contribution as an elected official. If there’s way, if he has an interest in helping in public service and there’s a way that works mutually, it would be my pleasure. But I was told he’s going to work in the private sector.”